Caught on Camera: Tesla Model Y Goes Airborne After FSD Fail

An influencer and his friend captured the moment on video.Miguel CortinaWriter

Sep 25, 2025

Tesla influencer Justin Demaree, also known as Bearded Tesla Guy, was attempting to make a cross-country trip in his 2026 Tesla Model Y Juniper, relying exclusively on Full Self-Driving (Supervised). But unfortunately for him, he didn’t get too far before he ran into an issue, literally. Just outside San Diego at the outset of his journey, the vehicle struck a large metallic object at more than 70 mph. Fortunately, no one was injured.

0:07 / 3:21

The moment was captured on camera, showing the Model Y Juniper traveling at 77 mph as Demaree and his friend first speculate that an object ahead might be roadkill. As they approach, it becomes clear that it’s actually a metallic object, but by then it was too late for them to react. The driver keeps the steering wheel steady just before the Model Y strikes the metal girder and briefly goes airborne. FSD Supervised failed to recognize the hazard, as the vehicle neither applied the brakes nor swerved on its own.

The pair pulled over shortly after the impact to inspect the damage. Although the underbody showed signs of impact, it didn’t appear serious. No warning lights illuminated, and the Tesla was able to drive forward and reverse without issue. Shaken by the incident, they paused for several minutes before continuing their trip. Later in the journey, however, the car began experiencing charging problems at a Supercharger. The issue eventually forced a stop at a Tesla Service Center in Tucson, Arizona, where technicians determined that the entire battery pack and parts of the suspension would need to be replaced.

In a separate video, Demaree explained that the battery was ultimately replaced under warranty after technicians traced the problem to preexisting chemistry issues unrelated to the incident. The suspension components and other damage wasn’t covered, however, with the estimated bill running in the $20,000 range to fix everything before later finding out that the battery would be fixed under warranty. Ouch.

While it’s impressive that no one was hurt and the vehicle sustained limited damage, the incident is a reminder of the need to be alert whenever driver-assistance technology is engaged. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) is among the most advanced systems of its kind, but it remains far from flawless, and drivers must stay attentive at all times to help prevent accidents.

When an object is stationary on the road, it is ultimately the driver’s responsibility to slow down and avoid a collision—regardless of whether FSD or any other driver assistance technology is engaged. Real-world traffic is not the place to push the limits of semi-autonomous technology. Incidents like this highlight both the promise and the shortcomings of Tesla’s system, and serve as a reminder that no matter how advanced the software, the human behind the wheel is still the final line of defense.